P/N 1501104 - Model F Keyboard Details & Specs
Provided by the ASK Keyboard Part Number Database
| TypeType A designation from my own type naming scheme used to categorise this keyboard with or from others by their common features and market intent but may/may not be derived from official names. |
Model F/XT PC Keyboard |
| Known Host SystemsKnown Host Systems A list of known host systems this keyboard could be bundled with or at least designed specifically to operate with. This could be terminals, desktop PCs or laptops. |
IBM 5150 Personal Computer (IBM 5150 family) IBM 5160 Personal Computer XT (IBM 5160 family) |
| OEMOEM Possible companies responsible for making this keyboard for the company marketing it. |
IBM |
| KeyswitchesKeyswitches The name of the known switching mechanism that lies under this keyboard's keys. |
IBM capacitive buckling springs |
| Earliest AppearanceEarliest Appearance The year (and possibly the quarter) that this keyboard part number was introduced, first observed, first recorded or the first example found. |
1981 Q3 |
| Original KeycapsOriginal Keycaps The keyboard's original keycaps' material and text/symbol printing technique. |
PBT with dye-sublimated legends |
| Cover ColourCover Colour The original colour of this keyboard's cover set (outer casing). For keyboards whose cover set materials are known to yellow, this will refer to the original colour before such transformation occurs. |
Pearl White |
| BrandingBranding The possible branding and logo styles found on this keyboard part number. This could be multiple styles at once or possible styles found over time. |
IBM silver square badge |
| FeetFeet The style of this keyboard's flip-out or extendable feet. If applicable, this may also state how many levels of height adjustment are available and whether the feet could be rubberised. |
Single-setting riser feet |
| ProtocolProtocol The protocol(s) this keyboard can use to speak to the host computer (eg, scancode sets). |
IBM Mode 1 (scancode set 1) |
| ConnectionConnection The keyboard-to-host connection. This is could be a description of a cable (its colour, whether its coiled, whether its detachable, and what connector is at its end) or the name of a wireless technology. |
Black coiled-style fixed DIN (180) cable |
| Key CountKey Count The number of keys that this keyboard originally had. |
83 |
| Form FactorForm Factor The standardised or universally acknowledged name for this keyboard's layout form factor. |
Navblockless |
Layout/LanguageLayout/Language The original regional/language layout this keyboard was configured as. Both the language and the standardised key layout may be listed, and in the case of both being known or defined, it will be styled as language then standard. |
Italian XT |
| Source(s)Source(s) Documents ("Doc"), websites and/or webpages ("Web") that were used as a source of information for this keyboard part number. Examples of this keyboard part number I own ("ASK") will also be included as sources. |
Web: https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer_keyboard |
| Related Directory EntriesRelated Directory Entries Possible ASK Keyboard Directory entries that relate to this part number. The Directory serves as a convenient way to find and share a particular keyboard, containing links to where to find out more about the keyboard and sometimes common part numbers. |
IBM Personal Computer Keyboard (aka, "Model F/XT") |
| Data Last Updated | 2022-07-23 |
More on this type of keyboard...
The IBM 5150 Personal Computer was an Intel 8088-based microcomputer released in August 1981 that thanks to its open architecture and software support became the basis of the "x86" PC family that continues to dominate desktop and laptop PCs to this day. The IBM Personal Computer Keyboard is the most common and widely considered to be the definitive Model F keyboard. After debuting with the 5150, it was later reused with the IBM 5160 Personal Computer XT released in March 1983 which is what the the PC Keyboard derives its common nickname from - F/XT. The F/XT played an important role in establishing the PC as a high-quality computer and solidifying buckling spring-based keyboards as IBM's go-to for well over a decade after its release. Relative to the competition, the F/XT brought unsurpassed reliability and build quality to the mix but arguably suffered from a layout too different from others. Most notably, the F/XT along with its predecessor and successors are criticised for their use of stepped multi-unit keys to reduce the need for stabilisers outside of the spacebar.
